Editors
John F. Howerton
Bryan R. Howerton
Volume One, Issue 3 Summer 1996
HOWERTON
HALL
By John F. Howerton
Howerton Hall was dedicated in 1950 to the memory of Dr. James Robert Howerton. The Hall is in Montreat, North Carolina, eighteen miles east of Asheville on the campus of Montreat College. James Howerton was the organizing force behind the acquisition of the land where Montreat and Montreat College are located. The site has become a major center for the Southern Presbyterian Church (Presbyterian Church, U.S.A.).
James was born in La Fayette, Christian County, Kentucky, on 9 August 1861, the son of John Thomas Howerton and Anna Smith James. He received the Master of Arts degree from The Southwestern Presbyterian University, Clarksville, Tennessee, 1882. The young minister finished his education at Columbia Theological Seminary in South Carolina in 1885 and was licensed to preach by the Nashville Presbytery the same year and was ordained in 1886. After ordination he became the pastor of the First Presbyterian Church in Corpus Christi, Texas. When the church published "On This Bluff" for their centennial in 1969, it included a picture and the story of his work.
Dr. Howerton was a fledgling minister when called to Corpus Christi. The day before he presented himself to the Western Texas Presbytery for examination, he realized that because he was not reared a Presbyterian he did not know the Shorter Catechism. This knowledge would certainly be required of him at examination time. He filled his pockets with sandwiches and went to the woods to study, learning the entire Catechism in that one day. He also learned the larger Catechism with scriptural proofs. He took up the Corpus Christi ministry on 16 September 1885.
In the summer of 1886 he went to Santa Gertrudis to perform a historic wedding, that of Alice Gertrudis King to a young Corpus Christi lawyer, Robert Justus Kleberg.
Another wedding of importance took place about this time. While serving as the pastor at the church in Corpus Christi he met and married Mary Norton Fullerton on 25 November 1886. Mary was the daughter of one of the church's charter members and a half sister of Mrs. Perry Doddridge. The couple had their first child, Rachel Doddridge Howerton, in September 1887 and added Anna James in June 1889, Mary Arney in July 1891, James Lawrence in March 1895, Perry Doddridge in August 1898, Robert Dunn in June 1901, Philip Fullerton in September 1903 and Josephine in January 1905.
After a short ministry in Corpus Christi he went to the Stillman Institute, a school for Negroes, in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, to become professor of theology. After a short period (1887-1888) he moved back into the pastorate. In 1888 he became the pastor of the Second Presbyterian Church in Little Rock, Arkansas where he remained until 1895. After a one year stay at the First Presbyterian Church in Norfolk, Virginia, he spent the next ten years as the pastor of the First Presbyterian Church in Charlotte, North Carolina (1896-1906). He devoted part of 1906 and 1907 to the work of developing Montreat. In 1907 Dr. Howerton went to Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia, where he served for seventeen years as a Professor of Philosophy.
An article from the Minutes of the 1924 Synod of Virginia reported, "When he gave up the pastorate to become a professor, Dr. Howerton stipulated with the authorities of the University that he should not have any classes after noon Saturdays, nor any on Mondays, that he might be free to accept invitations to preach on Sunday. He thus continued his work as a preacher until his health failed. He filled vacant pulpits within a hundred or more miles of Lexington, sometimes for months, at others for only a Sabbath. He also filled prominent pulpits during vacations. As a preacher, Dr. Howerton, while liberal in his interpretations of our standards, was throughly evangelical. He preached a pure, simple gospel with great clearness and power. He was a great teacher, and his influence in the class room will long abide in the minds and sound views of his many students." Ernest Howerton, a resident of Logan, West Virginia, wrote, "Dr. Howerton . . . was one of the ablest speakers I have ever heard."
They bestowed many honors upon James Howerton over the years. In 1890 Arkansas College awarded him the Doctor of Divinity degree; he was elected Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, U.S.A. at their 1907 meeting in Birmingham, Alabama; and in 1908 Central University in Kentucky awarded him the LL.D. He was chosen President of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches in 1910-1912. They gave Dr. Howerton another honor in 1950 when the new Alba Hotel was named Howerton Hall in recognition of his contribution toward the acquisition of the land on which Montreat is located.
Dr. Howerton wrote two books, "The Church and Social Reform" and "Freedom and Casualty." He served on three boards of trustees of Presbyterian educational institutions - The Southwestern Presbyterian University in Kentucky, Presbyterian College for Women in Charlotte, North Carolina, and Union Theological Seminary, Richmond Virginia.
The first attempt to establish a mountain retreat where Montreat now stands took place in 1895 when Mr. John C. Collins, a Congregational minister and a group of Christian people formed the Mountain Retreat Association for the establishment of a health and rest resort. It would also be used for religious and educational purposes. The Association obtained a charter in 1897 from North Carolina. Mr. Collins reported to the first meeting of the Managing Committee that an option had been taken on about 4500 acres of mountain land east of Asheville, North Carolina. The site was purchased in June 1897 for about eight dollars per acre. The cove between the mountains and ridges contains about 3,300 acres of level land. The name given to the retreat, MONTREAT, came from the words "Mountain Retreat" and as suggested by Mr. Collins.
For several summers many religious assemblies were held in Montreat. In 1899, Mr. John S. Huyler succeeded Dr. Collins in leadership of the Mountain Retreat Association. Mr. Huyler built the old Montreat Hotel at his own expense and managed the retreat area.
Dr. James R. Howerton and his family frequently spent their summer vacations in Montreat. Friends have said that Dr. Howerton, while fishing in Flat Creek, dreamed of "forming a company and buying Montreat for the constituency of the Presbyterian Church." He wanted Montreat to be used by the Church as a retreat and spiritual center, but not owned or controlled by the Church.
In 1905 the idea of acquiring the property was proposed to the North Carolina Presbyterian leaders (Synod) and they endorsed the idea. Dr. Howerton was appointed Chairman of a Committee to seek the purchase of the Montreat property. Mr. Huyler was willing to sell. By September 1, 1906, the committee agreed to pay Mr. Huyler half the purchase price, $25,000. To raise the money, Dr. Howerton proposed the sale of 500 shares of stock at $100 per share. The $50,000 would be used to pay Mr. Huyler and the remainder would be used to make improvements to the property. They would pay the balance of the purchase price to Mr. Huyler in ten years. The property needed roads, water, sewers, electric lights, buildings and so on. The plan to raise the necessary money was approved and shares were sold.
Montreat was to be used for religious meetings of all kinds by the Southern Presbyterian Church. In 1907 the Assembly, meeting in Birmingham, Alabama, approved the plan. The plan established a close relationship between the Mountain Retreat Association and the Presbyterian Church, U.S.A., but Montreat would be independent of church control.
The Association gave each stockholder a lot in Montreat as part of the original plan. Many stockholders built on their lots. Dr. Howerton supervised the building of roads. They built the Alba Hotel from timber on the Montreat property. "The Alba Hotel consisted of a front and back wing containing sixty-five rooms, long front porches, a large kitchen, and a dining room with a seating capacity for 400 people." After serving for one year, Howerton resigned from the leadership of the Montreat project, and accepted the teaching position at Washington and Lee University.
Fire destroyed the old Alba Hotel on the night of December 28, 1945. The old hotel was the last of the wood frame building. Over the years, all the Association and college buildings had been constructed of stone. Immediate plans were made to construct another hotel of stone. The site was laid out, sketches and plans were drawn and the blue prints made. A new hotel was built. On August 3, 1950, it was recommended the new building be named ". . . "Howerton Hall," in honor of the late Dr. James R. Howerton.
Dr. Howerton's seventh child, and youngest son, Philip Fullerton Howerton served the Presbyterian Church (USA) in many capacities. He was a Deacon 1933-1939, an Elder beginning in 1940, Moderator Mecklenburg Presbytery January term 1952, Assistant Moderator of the General Assembly 1952-1053, Moderator of the General Assembly 1958-1959. He was described as "a very stimulating Bible teacher, and taught adult classes of men for a long period." Philip had a part in adding a building to the campus of Montreat College. An article in the history of Montreat entitled, "Mr. Philip Howerton - Moore Center" it was stated "Mr. Philip Howerton of Charlotte, son of J. R. Howerton for whom Howerton Hall was named, announced to the Board that Mrs. Philip Howerton and her children, Mr. Herman Moore, Jr., and Mrs. Jan Moore Keesler, proposed to make a gift to the Mountain Retreat Association of $50,000 to $60,000 to be used for the erection and furnishing of a Social Center and Book Store in memory of Herman A. Moore. (Montreat: A Retreat For Renewal, 1947-1972, C.G. Davis, page 151).
The town of Montreat, North Carolina, as well as Montreat College are located on the Montreat Association property. Montreat College can celebrate 75 years of commitment to Christian Higher Education. Probably the most famous current resident at Montreat is Dr. Billy Graham.
The descendants of James R. Howerton are many. Today his descendants can be found in Kerrville, Texas, St. Louis, Missouri, Knoxville, Tennessee, South Pasadena, California, and North Carolina. We do not have a complete list of all his descendants, but we have located many descendants who are carrying his good name.
By Bryan R. Howerton
We have encountered several myths in the Howerton family history. The legends and myths are sensitive areas for some. It is not anyones intention to injure or falsify. However, we can save much time and effort when we realize that unrecorded oral history can become cloudy as it is passed through the generations. Most of the history has a basis in fact, but two examples in our immediate family history illustrate how one can expend time, energy and resources on misinformation.
From childhood our branch of the Howertons was reported to have come from Marion County, Kentucky to Osage County, Missouri. The story was based on information reported by a stranger to a family member that Howertons lived in Marion County, Kentucky. Further research showed that a group of Howertons was in Crittenden County, Kentucky (of which Marion is the county seat). We were distant relatives, but not in the direct line of descent. Most of six months of weekend research in the National Archives and Library of Congress was wasted on the misinformation. In another instance, the editor of a newspaper unwittingly printed an article by a local historian (a descendant of Robert Pollard Howerton) based on information from another cousin. After the cousin passed the information on, he discovered it was false. They had printed that our great-great-grandmother who was born in England, was titled "Lady Judith" and had lost her title and claim to nobility when she married a commoner, Robert Pollard Howerton.
In the area of Osage County, Missouri we made an acquaintance with a retired judge who had known personally the youngest brother of our great-grandfather. The judge had known the family and as a contemporary related facts known to his generation. He identified features on the Gasconade River running through their land still known as Howerton's Bluff and Howerton's Eddy. He said the family burial ground which had fallen into disuse was untended and showed no signs of visitors. However, after the newspaper article appeared with rumors of jewelry buried with the "titled English lady" I discovered on a subsequent visit that sightseers, litterbugs, would be grave robbers and vandals had been to the remote cemetery. Some digging had been done on some graves, but only to a shallow depth. Because they only marked the graves with uninscribed field stones, the diggers seem to have lost interest. Existing records identified occupants of some of the graves.
Our records show our great-great-grandmother, Judith White, were born in King William County, Virginia, the daughter of William White a successful planter and native of Virginia. Although the author of the article agreed to correct the errors, the damage was done. False data once seen in print takes on a life and truth of its own. When incorrect data goes undetected, it leads to wrong conclusions. Most of our data has been collected from records or publications. Occasionally, we could find nothing recorded on a particular individual and have had to accept oral history, providing more than one person corroborated. We have identified oral history in our records. Oral tradition and legend are extremely important and create interest in preservation of family history. We recommend that an effort be made to confirm the accuracy of information. The use of oral history should include the source of the information.
By John F. Howerton
In previous issues we have sought information on contemporary Howertons of whom we have lost track. All of the families had been lost in this century. There are contemporary families who can find their link to the past. We need the missing link in the line of ancestors going to either John of Maryland or Thomas of Virginia. Maybe you can help us find the missing link. Please send us any information on the following lost Howerton family.
James Arthur Howerton was born 18 March 1944 in Indianapolis, Indiana. James' father, Robert Nathan was born 5 May 1906 in Indiana. James' grandfather, Joseph Daniel Howerton was born 23 January 1869/1870 in Shelby County, Kentucky and died 29 August 1911 in Washington Township, Morgan County, Indiana. James' great-grandfather was Daniel Howerton, born about 1825 in Kentucky. Daniel's father is the missing link. Who was his father?
Daniel married Rebecca Jane Wilson (born 6 November 18330 in Shelby County, Kentucky) on 2 September 1849. We cannot link Daniel to his parents. Daniel may not have been his first name. We know Daniel and Rebecca had nine children. Apparently, the couple lived in Indiana where their oldest, Emma E. Was born in 1851. The moved back to Kentucky where they had Minnie L. In 1854, Mary J. In 1857, William B. or H. In 1860, Nancy in 1863, Louisa in 1866, and Joseph Daniel in 1869/1870. Records show the youngest children, Hugh and Georgianna were born in 1872 in Illinois. In 1900 Daniel's wife (or widow) was head of her household and living west of Indianapolis. She died in Bridgeport (Wayne Township), Indiana, on 22 January 1917.
We know that Daniel, age 31, was living in Shelbyville, Shelby County, Kentucky with his family on 6 July 1860 when they took the U.S. Census. The census report is almost unreadable, but the first name could start with "J." The neighbor nearest to Daniel's family was another Howerton, age 40, with his family. The name may be "Wm." The quality of the microfilm was so poor that much of it was unreadable. Clearly, the two Howerton families lived side-by-side. Most likely, the two families were closely related. We have found a Howerton in the 1850 Shelby County census that is probably the William of 1860. However, we have not found a "Daniel" in either Kentucky, Illinois or Indiana.
By John F. Howerton
Three Howertons who were born in the 16th Century left records of their involvement with the law. Their actions reflect the law of Virginia before and after the Revolution.
HERITAGE HOWERTON was born in 1734 in Essex County to Thomas Howerton and Jane Gilby. Most of his life was spent in the vicinity of Howertons, Virginia where he was a successful planter and a respected civic leader. He was an officer in the Essex Company of the Virginia Militia and participated in the Battles of Guilford Court House and the Siege of Yorktown.
On 17 April 1764 Heritage was called to serve on the Essex County Grand Jury. Marriages related many men on the Grand Jury to the Howertons or they were close friends. The names Latane, Cole, St. John, and Covington are often associated with the name Howerton in old legal documents.
The Grand Jury reported, "We, the Grand Jury for the body of this County being first sworn do maketh the following presentments, viz.:
Incidents in Saint Anne Parish:
John Donohue for appearing in his parish church drunk.
William Wake for not frequenting his parish church according to law. They charged Johnathan Griffin, James Griffin, James Boor, James Davis, Jr. , Gilbert Noel, Elizabeth Rowzee, Sarah Masters and Elizabeth Masters with the same offense.
Mary Boucher for having a bastard child.
Edward Gouldman for living in adultery with Mary Brooke.
South Farnham Parish:
They charged fifteen individuals with not frequenting the parish church according to law.
Titus Ferguson for missing church and living in fornication.
Sally Jones for retailing liquor contrary to the law.
The surveyor of roads that leads from the Matthews Bridge to Piscataway Old Mill for not keeping the said road in good repair.
Stephen Neal and Augustine Crow for profane swearing.
Frances Brizendine for retailing liquor contrary to law.
Francis Boughan for living in incest and for missing church.
The Reverend Alexander McCruden for not publishing the acts of assembly according to law.
They issued orders that the several people presented by the Grand Jury be summoned to appear at the next court to answer to the charges. For some unstated reason they excused the Reverend McCruden from appearing (Source: Order Book 25, page 220, Essex County, Virginia, Records)
JOHN HOWERTON was born about 1750 in Essex County to Thomas Howerton and Gryssilah (_______). He moved with his father to Henrico, Chesterfield and Prince Edward Counties, Virginia. He married around 1870 and settled in Montgomery County, Virginia until his death between 1830 and 1840. His property was on Little River about ten miles south of Christianburg, Virginia.
John's name appears as a witness to many legal document; on the tax list for Montgomery County; land deeds as both buyer and seller; as overseer of the highway.
Apparently, John had a fighting nature. In 1810 John Howerton, Sr., was fined $13.33 plus $.40 cost for assaulting and beating Thomas Dobbins (Superior Court Execution Book 1, Criminal file 93, Civil Order Book, Montgomery County, Virginia).
The same record showed that in 1810 Henly Chapman made an affidavit before the grand jury that John Howerton, Sr., and Obediah Howerton assaulted Thomas Dobbins. In May 1810 they served a summons on John and a copy was left for Obediah. Obediah did not appear at trial but he did pay his fine of $13.33 plus $.40 cost. Obediah and John also paid a joint fine of $9.37. John, Jr., was fined $5.00 for assault on William Dobbins and paid his fine on 4 January 1811.
The Superior Court Execution Book recorded in 1815 that William S. Ronald, Saddler, testified before the grand jury that on 4 April 1815, John Howerton, Yeoman, did break the peace by voluntarily fighting with David Iddings.
In 1827 Tobias Philips brought charges against Thomas and
Juliet Howerton for stealing a quantity of flax worth $3.00. He
stated that Thomas, laborer, and Juliet, spinster, with their
surety, John Howerton bind themselves to the governor and that
they will appear at the trial. Sally Howerton was called as a
witness. They quashed the charges. Apparently, this John was not
a peaceful man.
JOHN HOWERTON was born about 1760 in Essex County to William Howerton and Mary Hayes. He married Nancy Lumpkin of King & Queen County, Virginia. During the American Revolution he served in the 3rd, 5th and 9th Virginia Regiments. Following the war he operated an inn called Howerton's Ordinary, at Howertons in Essex County. John was also a land owner and farmer until his death on 18 February 1811.
Besides his service as a soldier during the war, John also sold beef to the Army occasionally. The records mention his name on the tax lists and on several legal documents.
John was appointed Captain of a militia company in Essex County and served as a deputy sheriff.
According to the records, in 1798 John was involved in a lawsuit filed in Chancery Court, Fredericksburg, Virginia (Howerton vs. Beale, File 34). Peter Taff said in a deposition that he was keeping a public house at Bowler's in Essex County where a card game took place following an oyster feast. The suit resulted from a debt incurred by John H. Beale who lost a large sum to John Howerton. The case did not end until about 1807. The documents detailing the case are between 50 and 75 handwritten sheets.
The District Court that serves five Virginia counties, including Essex, met on 23 July 1803 and reported that John Howerton had sought the arrest of John H. Beale for nonpayment of a debt incurred on 18 September 1799 in South Farnham Parish. Peter Taff agreed that Beale became drunk while in the company of several others in his public house. According to Taff, John Howerton was in the group but remained sober. The group left Taff's place and went another house. Either John Howerton or a Mr. Wood took a deck of cards from their pocket and Taff, Beale, Wood and Howerton began to play cards. Taff and Beale were partners and drank heavily. It was claimed Wood and Howerton scarcely drank. After a time, it was stated that Beale went to bed but was aroused and returned to the game where he lost heavily.
A jury was selected to hear the case and it determined that Beale should pay John Howerton 120 at six per cent interest from 1 March 1802. They made the finding on 20 April 1805.
Beale then sued Howerton. Apparently, Beale wanted his debt to John reduced. Beale had made a bond in 1801 to pay his debt. John Howerton had sold Beale property including a mahogany table. Beale's debt was a result of property purchased, the gambling debt, and an account at Howerton Tavern in Essex. Vincent Gordon who worked in Captain John Howerton's Tavern said he saw Beale's bond in 1801 and it was partly for gaming and partly for his account at the tavern. John states he is a tavern keeper in Essex County and had been for more than twenty years as was his father before him. Beale gambled with John and drank in his establishment. The record showed Beale regularly lost large sums to Captain Howerton.
A number of affidavits given by leading citizens of the area appear in the file. The citizens were characterized as men of truth. They all supported John Howerton in the case.
(NOTE! The data for the above article came from the research records of Bryan R. Howerton.)
THREE
"OLD" HOWERTONS
By John F. Howerton
Roland Reginald Howerton
ROLAND REGINALD HOWERTON is the first of the three "Old Howertons." He was born 19 September 1902 in Travis County, Texas, the son of William Monroe Howerton and Martha Jane Campbell who started for Texas the day after their marriage. Roland lived his early life in Travis County and in 1920 he was living with his parents on Hill Street, Pilot Point, Denton County, Texas.
On 2 September 1926, Roland married Hyacenth Carruth Gilmore. Their daughter, Barbara was born 22 August 1930 in Fort Worth and John was born in 1934. The year of Barbara's birth he began his 36-year career with the Fort Worth police department. In 1939 Hyacenth died. Two years later he married Ruby Louise Bouldin and their only child is Linda Kaye Howerton. Roland is still in good health and lives quietly with Louise in Fort Worth.
Roland's police career began in 1930 with the Fort Worth police department. He was known for his hearty laugh and a two-fisted police policy. They described him as " . . . the strict disciplinarian who declared open war on gambling and prostitution." By 1937 he was the Assistant Police Chief. He said, his law philosophy was shaped by the FBI Academy. In 1940 he was a Lieutenant and the first man from Fort worth to attend a session of the FBI Academy in Washington. The Academy gave him a police creed to live by.
He always felt his greatest contribution to Fort Worth law enforcement was the establishment of the first trainee school that evolved into the police academy. Roland said, "The academy, which began as a 40-hour course, was responsible for developing the high caliber of officers we now have . . . I knew a growing city needed a well-trained, efficient police force to provide better services and protect the community."
The Fort Worth Press wrote he was, "A devoted churchgoer - Chief Howerton is a deacon at Polytechnic Baptist Church and teaches the Kingsmen Sunday School Class there - his reputation in the police department is that of a tough disciplinarian. He served as chief of police from April 1951 to May 1953. He took over the job in the midst of a boiling controversy, following an intensive crime and vice investigation by a special grand jury. Roland caused a few shakeups in the department, and he stood the department back on its feet. He demanded, and received, strict discipline and cooperation for all members of the force. They said that adverse department response to his rigid moral beliefs prompted him to resign as chief for the sake of harmony in the department."
The Fort Worth Star-Telegram said that "during his long career, Howerton has served as president of the Texas Police Association, Vice president of the FBI National Academy Associates of Texas and past master of Tabernacle Masonic Lodge. He is a member of the board of Texas Baptist Children's Home and is a deacon in Polytechnic Baptist Church." On 31 May 1966 he retired from the Fort Worth police department after a 36-year battle against crime. He said he intended to stay retired and travel. After a summer working around the house, he and Mrs. Howerton "planned to take a long trip through the New England states." (Material for the above came from May 1966 articles in the Fort Worth Press and Fort Worth Star-Telegram, and several letters from family members.)
Roland Howerton Update
by John F. Howerton
Summer 2007
At the time of his death on 27 November 1998 Roland was 96. After his retirement, Roland became a member of the East Meadows Baptist Church where he continued to be a Sunday School teacher and Deacon. He also took a job with the police training division of Texas A&Ms Engineering Extension Service.
Roland rose through to the ranks of the Ft. Worth Police Department becoming the Chief in 1951. It was reported that Within five hours after his appointment, a stream of arrest began, netting 29 prostitutes; and, in a 15-hours period, a total of 93 arrests were made for gambling and bookmaking. He is reported to have smashed police corruption and unlocked the mobs grip over Ft. Worth.
In 1998, Thomas Windham was the Ft. Worth Police Chief and he spoke in glowing terms of the service Roland rendered for the city. Windham said, He's the person I can look at historically as the one who really brought the Police Department out of the era of corruption. He's the guy who really cleaned up the Ft. Worth Police Department. He made it easy for those of us who came after him as chief of police.
At numerous hearings, a number of police officers were fired.
The reform efforts of Roland did not go unchallenged. He had the support of area church leaders; however the injection of morality and reform angered people both inside and outside the Police Department and the community. The police had become accustomed to the lax ways of enforcing the law and opposed change. Even though he remained with the department until his retirement in 1966, he was forced to step down as chief in May 1953.
His Barbara reported that the family often worried about her fathers safety on the job. She reported, He came home one night and said nothing in particular had happened that day. She went on to say, that it was later learned he had had a running gun battle on the north side while in his patrol car.
WILLIAM CALLAWAY HOWERTON is the second of the three "Old Howertons." He was born 18 March 1903 in Foster, Garvin County, Oklahoma. Cal was the son of William Wiley Howerton and Ethel Emma Callaway. The family home was at the foot of the Table Mountains on 160 acres that Wiley owned and farmed. The family lived there until Cal was about twelve years of age when they moved to Paul's Valley. The school at Foster, near their farm, did not provide the kind of education Ethel wanted for her children. As a school teacher, she placed great importance on a good education.
After Cal's school years he worked for a while before going into the Army in 1923 at the age of twenty. After three years of Army life, he returned to his home in Paul's Valley in 1926 and got a job working for the railroad as a ticket agent. During the next year he met the woman who would be his mate for life. He and Elsie Johnson were married in 1927 and they will celebrate their 69th wedding anniversary this year.
The early years of their marriage were hard. As they started their family, the depression of the 1930's came. Cal worked as a timekeeper for the railroad, but knew he needed more schooling to support his family. He went to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, to attend Central High School and study sheet metal and riveting. From there, he continued his education at the South West School of Technology learning airplane engine mechanics. Just before he graduated, December 1941, the Japanese hit Pearl Harbor and started World War II.
The family moved to Ponca City, Oklahoma where he was supervisor of maintenance on airplanes for Darr Schools. Darr was a training base for British pilots. After a year of experience at the school in Ponca City, Cal took a job at the Douglas aircraft plant in Oklahoma City where they built airplane engines. He was a supervisor at Douglas until the end of the war and they scaled production down. They asked that Cal stay but he chose to work for a friend in his automobile parts rebuilding business. He remained in the business until his retirement. After retirement, he and Elsie returned to the place of their childhood in Garvin County, Oklahoma.
Baseball was one of Cal's passions. From his youth he played the game and later was a coach. Besides baseball, Cal was a great domino player and fisherman.
Cal was raised by devout Christian parents who were a major influence on his life. He and Elsie followed the example of their parents and both became wonderful Christians whose faith has helped them through the difficulties. They raised five sons and one daughter to follow their example. They have done well for the Howerton name.
From their six children they have twenty grandchildren, twenty-eight great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren. All fifty-seven descendants are still living.
(Note! The above summary of Cal's life was written by his daughter, Louise Howerton Stevens with whom Cal and Elsie live in Pauls Valley, Oklahoma).
GEORGE MORRIS HOWERTON is the youngest of the three "Old Howertons." George, now ninety-two, was born 22 Jun. 1904 in Paris, Lamar County, Texas, the son of Peace Officer John F. Howerton and Eudora Taylor. He was raised in Paris where he attended the public schools and the First Baptist Church.
A citywide fire in 1916 destroyed much of Paris, but the Howerton residency was spared. After they rebuilt the First Baptist Church, George was the first person baptized into the church. He went to work for the J.C. Penny's Company in 1923 and began to learn the retail business under the tutelage of the manager, Mr. Finney. In 1929 a second fire swept away parts of Paris and the Howerton home was burned. While they rebuilt the family home, George lived with the Floyd family. Mr. Floyd and, George's father, John Howerton were fellow peace officers in Paris.
In 1929 George went to the new J. C. Penny's store in Coleman, Texas and in 1931 they transferred him to the McKinney, Texas, store. While in McKinney, he entered the seventeen course Penny program of retailing and made application to become a partner of J. C. Penny. The application asks two questions: Are you a Christian and a nonsmoker? George was both. He was next transferred to the Stamford, Texas, store and in 1937 became the manager of the J. C. Penny's store in Cameron, Texas.
As a young man, before leaving Paris, he became a Sunday School teacher in the First Baptist Church. At every stop in his career, he joined the local Baptist Church. In Cameron, he met Johnny Osborn, who was an employee at J. C. Penny's and a companion church member at the First Baptist Church. George and Johnny were married 9 February 1941 in Cameron.
They promoted George to District Manager of 71 J.C. Penny's stores in the five state area around Minneapolis, Minnesota. In 1945, Mr. Finney retired from the J. C. Penny's store in Paris. George was offered further promotions in the J. C. Penny's company, but he requested a transfer to the store in his hometown. For the next fourteen years he managed the J. C. Penny's store in Paris. George and Johnny built a home next to his brother, Luther, the only house between his and the family home where his mother lived.
Throughout his life George had saved and invested with the intentions of retiring at age fifty-five. In 1959 he retired. He and Johnny began several years of travel that took them across the United States and Canada. They often coupled their travels with their love for fishing. They have no children.
George and Johnny live quietly on the street where he was raised as a boy. He is a 32nd Degree Mason and still attends Sunday School at the First Baptist Church in Paris. His Sunday School Teacher is a former minister at the church, Dr. A. B. White who is now ninety-four. In the class is one boy George taught in Sunday School in 1930. George does the family grocery shopping and attends the Lion's Club regularly.
(The material on George came from an oral interview with his nephew, John Howerton, of Glendale, Arizona.)
The three "Old Howertons" are apparently the oldest living Howertons and have more in common than their name. All three have been lifelong Christians and church goers. Although they come from different branches of the Howerton family, they share a deep commitment to their religious faith.
They are all descended from a Howerton family that settled in Missouri at one time. Roland is descended from Jackson Howerton who moved to Barry County from Tennessee about 1839. William came from the line of Francis Bounds (Frank) who moved from Tennessee to Arkansas, on to Barry County, down into Texas and finally to Garvin County, Oklahoma. George's father and grandfather are descended from Reuben Howerton of Carroll County. George's father was brought to Texas from Marion County by his father, William Henderson Howerton, as a baby in 1973.
(NOTE! Since writing the above article we have received information that Donie Mae Howerton (age 96) of Abbeville, Alabama, is still living. She is older than Roland, Cal and George. We hope to have an article on Donie Mae in the next issue of Howerton Heritage. We would like the story of any Howerton over ninety.)
JOHN WESLEY HOWERTON Reunion in Abbeville, Alabama. Mary Frances Howerton Stinson reported the Howertons of Henry County, Alabama started holding a reunion two years ago. She reported they were holding the reunion on Saturday, June 22, at the Judson Baptist Church Fellowship Hall . The church on state highway 93 northeast of Abbeville.Mary reported she has placed 448 names on a family tree that is "40 feet long and 3 feet wide. It was posted on the side of a building for everyone to see."
JOSEPH MILTON HOWERTON Reunion. Leo and Avis Howerton of Carlsbad, New Mexico has sent information about their Howerton Reunion. The Howertons of the Carlsbad area are descended from Joseph Milton Howerton. Bryan said his grandfather was the brother of James, Joseph's father. Apparently, the Howertons in Arkansas had lost touch with Joseph and his descendants.
Avis' letter described the Howerton Reunion in New Mexico as follows, "Our first annual Howerton family reunion began in September 1984 and we have had one every year since except for 1991. That one was canceled because of a death in the family. We all gather during Labor Day week along the banks of the Penasco River in Otero County near Mayhill, New Mexico. Our 1995 reunion drew 101 in attendance. Every year a huge sign is placed at the entrance of where our reunion is in progress for the benefit of first time visitors unfamiliar with the area. One year a family of Howertons from Pauls Valley, Oklahoma who were driving through the area noticed the sign and stopped for a visit with us (see the article in the Spring Issue of Howerton Heritage for an article on the Pauls Valley reunion). In 1995 several exciting things happened at our reunion. Three sisters in their mid-forties who had not seen each other since childhood, being separated following the death of their mother, were reunited. It was a joy to see these sisters so jubilant at the fact of seeing each other again and getting reacquainted. Another exciting scenario was a formal wedding of one of our nieces on the banks of the Penasco River - a beautiful sight indeed! The occasion was complete with a reception, three tiered wedding cake and everything that goes with a beautiful wedding."
We had lost touch with the later generations of both the above families and are looking completing our records.
By Bryan R. Howerton
The article "Howertons in the American Revolutionary War" in the last issue of Howerton Heritage showed that most of the Howertons were still concentrated in the Essex\King & Queen County area of Virginia at the time. Only a few had ventured westward beyond the settled area of Virginia, Maryland, and North Carolina.
Following the Revolutionary War, the Howertons joined their fellow compatriots in the mass migration into the western regions. Most of North America south of the Great Lakes and the Saint Lawrence River, from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mississippi River, belonged to the United States. Only Florida and the lands west of her to the Mississippi River were still in European hands. The westward movement gathered momentum and by 1850 only one Howerton, Charlotte, remained in Essex County. We will address this massive migration of the developing twigs and branches of our Howerton family in some future issues.
The locations from which Howertons came to serve in the War of 1812 give an indication of how widely they had spread from their location during the Revolutionary War. A check of the 1810 U. S. Census records where they knew that Howertons lived clearly plots their movement.
A variety of events in Europe were slowly drawing the fledgling United States toward a war with one or more of the great powers. Our nation could have gotten into war with England, France or Spain because of their high-handed actions. On 22 June 1907, the American frigate USS Chesapeake was barely out of American waters, ten miles out of Norfolk, on her way to the Mediterranean area when HMS Leopard attacked her. The Chesapeake crew was still loading cargo from deck to hold and unprepared to put up a defense. The British fired three shots into the unprepared American vessel. After firing only a single shot, the Captain surrendered. They lined up the American crew on deck and the British seized four deserters, three of whom were native Americans. While the insulting actions of England enraged Americans, the more explosive issue was the belief by Americans that the British were inciting the Indians of the Northwest Territories to resist the migration of settlers into the area. The British officials were supplying the Indians with war materiel which Americans viewed as hostile action. However, as usual, our nation was not prepared to act immediately because America had made such drastic military reductions in 1802 that the nation could barely defend the frontier settlements (where some Howertons were found) against Indian depredations, let alone against an enemy that was well organized, trained and equipped. Congress immediately began to authorize additional forces and in 1808 new legislation tripled the authorized strength of the Regular Army to some 10,000 men. Such still was not a very impressive figure.
Although we had enhanced our military capability, our sailors were still subject to impressment by British ships. Our navy could only offer token resistance. We were no match for the British fleet.
In 1810 an outspoken group of young nationalists was elected to Congress from the western states. The "War Hawks" valued honor above any form of ignominious submission. The Battle of Tippecanoe on 7 November 1811 ignited Americans when the fleeing Indians left weapons on the battlefield that were of British make. Although the British took actions in an attempt to placate the Americans on 18 June 1812 the United States declared war. Britain had injured the pride of the new nation in a variety of ways and we were now at war with the strongest power on earth.
During the five years preceding the War of 1812 the individual states were busy improving the size and quality of their militias. As usual, the Howertons were well represented as their state and country called and they answered. The Howerton families in Virginia, North and South Carolina, and Kentucky are known to have sent some of their sons to serve in this war. While we have not compiled the total number of Howertons in the United States in 1810, a tabulation of the Virginia census figures put the number at about 125. The total Howerton population in the United States could not have been more than a few hundred. We have found the records of twenty-six Howertons who served. There were undoubtedly more, but either the records have not survived or we have not looked in the right place. For instance, there was a Heritage Howerton who settled in Louisiana before the War of 1812 and was in business there for many years before his death at Shreveport in 1851. His descendants have claimed that he participated in the Battle of New Orleans. After an extensive search, we have found him serving as Quartermaster in the 1st Territorial Mississippi Militia Regiment until at least 1807. Given his prior military service and his location at the time of the Battle of New Orleans, there is the strong likelihood that he was with Jackson as reported through oral history.
One Howerton made the supreme sacrifice. William Howerton was born about 1786 in Brunswick County, Virginia. He was the son of Thomas Howerton and Mary Kirk. William was a member of an artillery battery supporting the 35th Infantry Regiment at Fort Powhatan with counter battery fire. A salvo fired from a British ship in the harbor at Norfolk, Virginia, struck his battery. The salvo killed him and other members of his unit, including the commander. Official records show that in 1818 his dependent and widowed mother, Mary Howerton, of Brunswick County, Virginia requested her son's back pay as compensation for his death.
Our ancestors serving in that war generally walked from their place of assembly, usually the county seat, to wherever their unit met the enemy, unless they belonged to mounted units. Some units, particularly the Tennessee Militia, rode on rafts, boats, etc., down the Mississippi River to New Orleans. However, no record has been found of a Howerton fortunate enough to enjoy river travel. Some of our kin marched great distances. Records show that the Kentucky Militia units, which included Howertons, marched more than 800 miles to and from the Battle of New Orleans. Frontier militiamen mostly armed themselves and there was no uniformity in weaponry. Probably in consideration of the great distances to be covered afoot, they were lightly equipped. For example, the total camp equipment of some Kentucky units was one kettle per 80 men. Their lack of equipment did not prevent them from winning a tremendously one-sided victory over the British at New Orleans - and Howertons were there.
The following Howertons are known to have participated in the War of 1812. The list contains only the names of those for whom records were found. Most of the records were found in the National Archives, but, some were located in county courthouses. Many records were maintained by the counties and have not survived the ravages of fire, the Civil War, water damage and carelessness. We have not visited all county courthouses.
This list of Howertons who served is not intended to dispute, disprove or contradict the oral or written history passed on within your family. If your family history claims a Howerton ancestor served in the War of 1812 and his name is not included in the list below we hope you will understand that our failure to find a record of his service does not mean that he did not serve. Send us your information and help us complete the record.
Thomas Howerton was born 21 Oct 1764 in Essex County, Virginia. He served as a Sergeant from Halifax County in Capt I Medley's Company of Infantry, 69th Regt of VA Militia. He was encamped at Petersburg, Virginia in defense of Petersburg and Richmond.
James Howerton was born in 1766 in Essex County, Virginia. James served as a Captain from Halifax County, commanding an Infantry Company in the 5th Regt Virginia Militia, 11thBrigade in the defense of Norfolk harbor. His unit was stationed for a time at Camp Alpine and Fort Nelson.
Lewis Montague Howerton was born ca. 1780 in Essex County, Virginia. He served from King & Queen County, as a First Sergeant of Capt L DeShazo's Company of Infantry, 9thRegt Virginia Militia (also served in the 109th Regt). He participated in the defense of Washington, the Battle of Bladensburg and was later stationed in Georgetown.
Henry C. Howerton was born ca. 1782 Essex County, Virginia. Henry served from Essex County, Virginia as an Ensign in Lt James Dunn's Company of Light Infantry, 6thVirginia Militia. He was present at the defense of Tappahannock on the Rappahannock River when it was captured and plundered by the British.
William Howerton was born ca. 1786 in Brunswick County, Virginia. He served from Brunswick County as a Private in Capt J Fisher's Company of Artillery, 66th Regt Virginia Militia. While providing support for the 35th Infantry, U S Army at Ft Powhatan in defense of Norfolk harbor he was killed on 28 Jan 1815 at the same time as his company commander, Capt James Fisher.
Obediah Howerton was born ca. 1787 Montgomery County, Virginia. He served as a Captain in the War of 1812 according to files in the Illinois State Archives; details of his service have not been found.
William Roane Howerton was born 18 Jan 1787 in Essex County, Virginia. He served from Essex County as a Private in the 4th (Beaty's) Regt Virginia Militia. Location of his active duty is unknown.
William T Howerton was born 5 Apr 1788 Halifax County, Virginia. He served from Halifax County as a Sergeant in Capt I Medley's Company of Line Infantry, 69th Regt Virginia Militia, in defense of Petersburg and Richmond.
William Howerton was born ca. 1790 Halifax County, Virginia. Served from Halifax County as a Private in Capt J Sandford's Troop of Cavalry, 69th Regt Virginia Militia, in defense of Norfolk harbor.
James Howerton was born 16 Feb 1789 in Essex County, Virginia. He entered the U S Army as a Lieutenant in the 28th Infantry Regt at Lexington, Kentucky on 20 May 1813. By 1814 he was on the staff of General Andrew Jackson with whom he was present at the Battle of New Orleans.
William Howerton was born ca. 1790 Halifax County, Virginia. He served from Halifax County as a Private in Capt J Sandford's Troop of Cavalry, 69th Regt Virginia Militia in defense of Norfolk harbor.
Joel Howerton was born in 1792 in Brunswick County, Virginia. He served from Edgefield County, South Carolina as a Private in Capt W W Old's Company of Infantry, W Austin's Regt of South Carolina Militia. Location of his active duty is unknown.
Joshua Howerton was born ca. 1792 Campbell County, Virginia. Joshua served from Campbell County as a Private in Capt S Johnson's Company of Infantry, 3rd Regt (Dickinson's) Virginia Militia. His unit traveled 300 miles to their place of assignment, the location of which is unknown.
Philip Howerton was born 31 December 1793 Essex County, Virginia. He served from Essex County as an Ensign in Capt J Janney's Company, 6th Regt Virginia Militia. He also served in the same company when it was commanded by Capt Robert G Haile and assigned to the 111th Regt Virginia Militia. He was present at the defense of Tappahannock when it was captured and plundered by the British.
John Howerton was born ca. 1794 Essex County, Virginia. John served from Essex County as a Private in Capt W L Waring's Company of Infantry, 111th Regt (Parker's) Virginia Militia in the defense of Fredericksburg.
James Howerton was born ca. 1794 Brunswick County, Virginia. He served from Edgefield County, South Carolina as a Private in Capt W W Old's Company of Infantry, Lt Col W Austin's Regt of South Carolina Militia. Location of his active duty is unknown.
James Howerton was born ca. 1794 Rockingham County, North Carolina. He served from Grayson County, Kentucky as a Private in Capt W Gannaway's Company of Infantry, Kentucky Detached Militia. His unit marched 800 miles to join General Andrew Jackson, under whom he fought in the Battle of New Orleans.
Hezekiah Howerton was born 1795 Buckingham County, Virginia. He served from Guilford County , North Carolina as a Private in the 1st Regt (McDonald's) North Carolina Militia. Location of his active duty is unknown.
Thomas Howerton was born 10 Jun 1795 in Halifax County, Virginia. Thomas served from Halifax County as a Private in Capt J Sandford's Troop of Cavalry, 69th Regt Virginia Militia in defense of Norfolk harbor.
John Howerton was born ca. 1796 in Rockingham County, North Carolina. He served from Grayson County, Kentucky as a Private in Capt W Gannaway's Company of Infantry, Kentucky Detached Militia. His unit marched 800 miles to join General Andrew Jackson, under whom he fought in the Battle of New Orleans.
Robert Gaines Howerton was born 26 Sep 1796 Essex County, Virginia. Served from Essex County as a Private in Capt R Rowzee's Company of Artillery, 4th (Ritchie's) Regt Virginia Militia at Tappahannock and was a member of the 6th (Ritchie's) Regt in defense of Tappahannock when it was captured by the British and plundered.
The Howertons listed above were all descended from Thomas Howerton, who was born in England ca. 1640 and settled in Virginia in 1663. The Howertons listed below all served during the War of 1812. Their lineage has not been positively established and they may be descended from either of the original Howerton settlers, Thomas or John. We would appreciate hearing from anyone having any information about the following:
George Howerton was born 1792 Henrico County, Virginia. He enlisted at Lynchburg, Virginia on 22 Sep 1813 as a Private in the 20th U S Infantry at which time he was described as 21 years of age; born in Henrico Co, VA; 5'10" tall; gray eyes; dark hair, fair complexion; and a planter by occupation. On 20 Aug 1810 he had married Penelope Stovall, daughter of John Stovall, in Campbell Co, VA. He reenlisted in the 13th U S Infantry on 2 Apr 1814, and again on 24 May 1817 at Piscataway, MD in Company E, 3rd Btln, Coast Arty. He deserted from Ft McHenry, MD on 30 Apr 1819, which is the last known of him.
James Howerton served from Halifax County, Virginia as a Private in Capt J Sandford's Troop of Cavalry, 69th Regt Virginia Militia. The unit traveled 240 miles to the Norfolk area and served in the defense of that harbor.
James Howerton served from Halifax County, Virginia as a Private in Capt W Leigh's Company, 2nd Corps d'Elite (Greene's) Virginia Militia. The unit traveled 150 miles to their duty assignment at Camp Charles City Courthouse.
Samuel Howerton served from Spotsylvania County, Virginia as a First Sergeant in Lt B Clark's (later Grey's) Company of Infantry, 16th Regt Virginia Militia. Little is known of him.
Thomas Howerton served as a Private in Capt W Green's Company of Infantry, 5thRegt (Lt Col Street's) Virginia Militia. He was stationed at Camp Peach Orchard in defense of Norfolk harbor.
Return to Newsletter Contents Page
Copyright © 1999-2007 Howerton Heritage